CHAPTER XXXII.
Ch‘ichou Taken: Yüan Shang Strives:
The Chang River Cut: Hsu Yu’s Scheme.
Yüan Shang was puffed up with pride after his victory over Shih Huan and, without deigning to wait the arrival of his brothers, he marched out to Liyang to meet the army of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao. Chang Liao came out to challenge him, and Yüan Shang, accepting the challenge rode out with spear set. But he only lasted to the third bout when he had to give way. Chang Liao smote with full force and Shang, quite broken, fled pell mell to Ch‘ichou. His defeat was a heavy shock to his father, who had a severe fit of hemorrhage at the news and swooned.
The Lady Liu, his wife, got him to bed as quickly as possible, but he did not rally and she soon saw it was necessary to prepare for the end. So she sent for Shên P‘ei and Fêng Chi that the succession might be settled. They came and stood by the sick man’s bed, but by this time he could no longer speak; he only made motions with his hands. When his wife put the formal question, whether Shang was to succeed, he nodded his head. Shên P‘ei at the bedside wrote out the dying man’s testament. Presently he uttered a loud moan, a fresh fit of bleeding followed and he passed away.
Born of a line of nobles famous for generations,
He himself in his youth was wayward always and headstrong,
Vainly he called to his side captains skilled and courageous,
Gathered beneath his banner countless legions of soldiers,
For he was timid at heart, a lambkin dressed as a tiger,
Merely a cowardly chicken, phoenix-feathered but spurless.
Pitiful was the fate of his house; for when he departed
Brother with brother strove and quarrels arose in the household.
Shên P‘ei and some others set about themourning ceremonies for the dead man. His wife, the Lady Liu, put to death five of his favourite concubines, and such was the bitterness of her jealousy that, not content with this, she shaved off the hair and slashed the faces of their poor corpses lest their spirits should meet and rejoin her late husband in the land of shades beneath the Nine Springs. Her son followed up this piece of cruelty by slaying all the relatives of the unhappy concubines lest they should avenge their death.
Shên P‘ei and Fêng Chi declared Yüan Shang successor with the titles of Minister of War and General Governor of the four prefectures of Ch‘i, Ch‘ing, Yu and Ping and sent in a report of the death of the late governor.
At this time Yüan T‘an, the eldest son, had already marched out his army to oppose Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, but hearing of his father’s death he called in Kuo T‘u and Hsin P‘ing to consult as to his course of action.
“In your absence, my lord,” said Kuo T‘u, “the two advisers of your younger brother will certainly set him up as lord, wherefore you must act quickly.”
“Those two, Shên and Fêng, have already laid their plans,” said Hsin P‘ing. “If you go you will meet with some misfortune.”
“Then what should I do?” asked Tan.
Kuo T‘u replied, “Go and camp near the city and watch what is taking place while I enter and enquire.”
Accordingly Kuo T‘u entered the city and sought an interview with the young governor.
“Why did not my brother come?” asked Shang after the usual salutes.
Kuo T‘u said, “He cannot come as he is in the camp unwell.”
“By the command of my late father I take the lordship. Now I confer upon my brother the rank of General of Cavalry and I wish him to go at once to attack Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, who is pressing on the borders. I will follow as soon as my army is in order.”
“There is no one in our camp to give advice,” said Kuo T‘u.
“I wish to have the services of Shên P‘ei and Fêng Chi.”
“I also need the help of these two,” said Shang. “And as I am always working at schemes I do not see how I can do without them.”
“Then let one of these two go,” replied T‘u.
Shang could do no other than accede to this request so he bade the two men cast lots who should go. Fêng Chi drew the lot and was appointed, receiving a seal of office. Then he accompanied Kuo T‘u to the camp. But when he arrived and found T‘an in perfect health he grew suspicious and resigned. T‘an angrily refused to accept his resignation and was disposed to put him to death, but Kuo T‘u privately dissuaded him saying, “Ts‘ao Ts‘ao is on the borders and he must be kept here to allay your brother’s suspicions. After we have beaten Ts‘ao we can at once make an attempt on Ch‘ichou.”
Yüan T‘an agreed and forthwith broke up his camp to march against the enemy. He reached Liyang and lost no time in offering battle. He chose for his champion Wang Chao and, when he rode out, Ts‘ao Tsʻao sent Hsü Huang to meet him. These two had fought but a few bouts when Wang Chao was slain. At once Ts‘ao’s army pressed forward and T‘an suffered a severe defeat. He drew off his army and retired into Liyang, whence he sent to his brother for reinforcements.
Shang and his adviser Shên P‘ei discussed the matter and half a legion only was sent. Ts‘ao hearing of the despatch of this meagre force sent two generals to waylay them and the half legion was destroyed. When T‘an heard of the inadequate force sent and their destruction he was very wrath and roundly abused Fêng Chi. Fêng replied, “Let me write to my lord and pray him to come himself.”
So Fêng Chi wrote and the letter was sent. When it arrived Shang again consulted Shên P‘ei who said, “Kuo T‘u, your elder brother’s adviser, is very guileful. Formerly he left without discussion because Ts‘ao was on the border. If Ts‘ao be defeated there will certainly be an attempt on you. The better plan is to withhold assistance and use Ts‘ao’s hand to destroy your rival.”
Shang took his advice and no help was sent. When the messenger returned without success T‘an was very angry and showed it by putting Fêng Chi to death. He also began to talk of surrendering to Ts‘ao. Soon spies brought news of this to Shang and again Shên P‘ei was called in. Said he, “If he goes over to Ts‘ao they will both attack Ch‘ichou and we shall be in great danger.” Finally Shên P‘ei and Su Yu were left to take care of the defence of the city and Yüan Shang marched his army to the rescue of his brother.
“Who dares lead the van?” said Yüan Shang.
Two brothers named Lü volunteered and three legions were given them. They were the first to reach Liyang.
T‘an was pleased that his brother had made up his mind to play a brotherly part and come to his aid, so he at once abandoned all thought of going over to the enemy. He being in the city, Yüan Shang camped outside, making that an angle of their strategic position. Before long Yüan Hsi, the second brother, and their cousin, Kao Kan, arrived with their legions and also camped outside the city.
Engagements took place daily and Shang suffered many defeats. On the other hand Ts‘ao was victorious and elated. In the second month of the eighth year, Tsʻao made separate attacks on all four armies and won the day against each. Then they abandoned Liyang and Ts‘ao pursued them to Ch‘ichou, where T‘an and Shang went into the city to defend it, while their brother and cousin camped about thirty li away making a show of great force. When Ts‘ao had made many attacks without success Kuo Chia proffered the following plan.
He said, “There is dissension among the Yüans because the elder has been superseded in the succession. The brothers are about equally strong and each has his party. If we oppose them they unite to assist each other, but if we have patience they will be weakened by family strife. Wherefore send first a force to reduce Liu Piao in Chingchou and let the fraternal quarrels develop. When they have fully developed we can smite them and settle the matter.”
Ts‘ao approved of the plan. So leaving Chia Hsü as Prefect of Liyang and Ts‘ao Hung as guard at Kuantu the army went away toward Chingchou.
The two brothers T‘an and Shang congratulated each other on the withdrawal of their enemy, and their brother Hsi and cousin marched their armies back to their own districts.
Then the quarrels began. T‘an said to his confidants, “I, the eldest, have been prevented from succeeding my father, while the youngest son, born of a second wife, received the main heritage. My heart is bitter.”
Said Kuo T‘u, “Camp your men outside, invite your brother and Shên P‘ei to a banquet and assassinate them. The whole matter is easily settled.”
And T‘an agreed. It happened that a certain Wang Hsiu came just then from Ch‘ingchou whom T‘an took into his confidence. Wang opposed the murder plan saying, “Brothers are as one’s limbs. How can you possibly succeed if at a moment of conflict with an enemy you cut off one of your hands? If you abandon your brother and sever relationship, whom will you take in all the world as a relation? That fellow Kuo is a dangerous mischief-maker, who would sow dissension between brothers for a momentary advantage, and I beg you to shut your ears and not listen to his persuasions.”
This was displeasing to T‘an and he angrily dismissed Wang, while he sent the treacherous invitation to his brother.
His brother and Shên P‘ei talked over the matter. Shên P‘ei said, “I recognise one of Kuo T‘u’s stratagems and if you go, my lord, you will be the victim of their plot. Rather strike at them at once.”
Whereupon Shang rode out to battle. His brother T‘an, seeing him come with five legions, knew that his treachery had been discovered, so he also took the field, and when the forces were near enough T‘an opened on Shang with a volley of abuse.
“You poisoned my father and usurped the succession; now you come out to slay your elder brother?”
The battle went against T‘an. Shang himself took part in the fight, risking the arrows and the stones. He urged on his men and drove his brother off the field. He took refuge in P‘ingyüan. Yüan Shang drew off his men to his own city.
Yüan T‘an and Kuo T‘u decided upon a new attack and this time they chose Ts‘ên Pi as leader. Yüan Shang went to meet him. When both sides had been arrayed and the banners were flying and the drums beating, Ts‘ên Pi rode out to challenge and railed at his opponent. At first Shang was going to answer the challenge himself but Lü K‘uang actually went out. Lü and Ts‘ên met but had fought only a few bouts when the latter fell. T‘an’s men were once more defeated and ran away to P‘ingyüan. Shên P‘ei urged his master to press home the advantage and T‘an was driven into the city, where he fortified himself and would not go out. So the city was besieged on three sides.
T‘an asked his strategist what should be done next and he said, “The city is short of food, the enemy is flushed with victory and we cannot stand against them. My idea is to send some one to offer surrender to Ts‘ao Tsʻao and thus get him to attack Ch‘ichou. Your brother will be forced to return thither, which will leave you free to join in the attack. We may capture Shang. Should Ts‘ao begin to get the better of your brother’s army we will lend our force to help him against Ts‘ao Ts‘ao, and as Ts‘ao’s base of supply is distant we shall drive him off. And we can seize on Ch‘ichou and begin our real career.”
“Supposing this scheme be attempted, who is the man for a messenger?”
“I have one, Hsin P‘i, Hsin P‘ing’s younger brother; he is magistrate here in this very place. He is a fluent speaker and good scholar and suited to your purpose.”
So Hsin P‘i was summoned and came readily enough. Letters were given him and an escort of three companies took him beyond the border. He travelled as quickly as possible.
At that time Ts‘ao’s camp was at Hsip‘ing and he was attacking Liu Piao, who had sent Yüan-tê out to offer the first resistance. No battle had yet taken place.
Soon after his arrival Hsin P‘i was admitted to the Minister’s presence, and after the ceremonies of greeting Ts‘ao asked the object of the visit. Hsin Pʻi explained that Yüan T‘an wanted assistance and presented his despatches. Ts‘ao read them and told the messenger to wait in his camp while he called his officers to a council.
The council met. Ch‘êng Yu said, “Yüan T‘an has been forced into making this offer because of the pressure of his brother’s attack. Put no trust in him.”
Lü Ch‘ien and Man Ch‘ung said, “You have led your armies here for a special purpose; how can you abandon that and go to assist Yüan T‘an?”
“Gentlemen, not one of you is giving good advice,” interposed Hsün Yu. “This is how I regard it. Since there is universal trouble, in the midst of which Liu Piao remains quietly content with his position between Chiang and Han, it is evident that he has no ambition to enlarge his borders. The Yüans hold four Chou and have many legions of soldiers. Harmony between the two brothers means success for the family and none can foresee what will happen in the Empire. Now take advantage of this fraternal conflict and let them fight till they are weakened and have to yield to our Minister. Then Yüan Shang can be removed, and when the times are suitable, Yüan T‘an can be destroyed in his turn. Thus peace will ensue. This present combination of circumstances is to be taken advantage of to full measure.”
Ts‘ao realised the truth of this and treated the messenger well. At a banquet he said, “But is this surrender of Yuan T‘an real or false? Do you really think that Shang’s army is sure to overcome him?”
Hsin P‘i replied, “Illustrious one, do not enquire into the degree of sincerity; rather regard the situation. The Yüans have been suffering military losses for years and are powerless without, while their strategists are put to death within. The brothers seize every chance to speak evil of each other and their country is divided. Add to this famine, supplemented by calamities and general exhaustion, and everybody, wise as well as simple, can see that the catastrophe is near, the time ordained of Heaven for the destruction of the Yüans is at hand. Now you have a force attacking Yeh, and if Yüan Shang will not return to give aid the place of refuge is lost. If he help, then T‘an will follow up and smite him, making use of your power to destroy the remnant of his brother’s army, just as the autumn gale sweeps away the fallen leaves. If he do not, then he will attack Chingchou. Now Chingchou is rich, the government peaceful, the people submissive and it cannot be shaken. Moreover, there is no greater threat to it than Hopei. If that be reduced then the task is complete. I pray you, Sir, think of it.”
“I am sorry that I did not meet you earlier,” said Ts‘ao, much gratified with this speech.
Forthwith orders were given to return and attack Ch‘ichou. Yüan-tê, fearing this retirement was only a ruse, allowed it to proceed without interference and himself returned to Chingchou.
When Yüan Shang heard that Ts‘ao had crossed the river he hastily led his army back to Yeh, ordering the two Lüs to guard the rear. His brother T‘an started from P‘ingyüan with a force in pursuit. He had not proceeded far when he heard a bomb and two bodies of men came out in front of him and checked his progress. Their leaders were Lü K‘uang and Lü Hsiang. T‘an reined in and addressed them, saying, “While my father lived I never treated you badly; why do you support my brother and try to injure me?”
The two men had no reply to make, but they dismounted and bowed before him yielding submission.
T‘an said, “Do not surrender to me but to the Minister,” and he led them back to camp, where he waited the arrival of Ts‘ao and then presented the pair. Ts‘ao received them well. He promised his daughter to T‘an to wife and he appointed the two brothers as advisers.
When T‘an asked Ts‘ao to attack Chʻichou the reply was “Supplies are short and difficult to transport. I must turn the waters of the Chishui into the Paiho from Chiho whereby to convey my grain and afterwards I can advance.”
Ordering T‘an to remain in P‘ingyüan, Ts‘ao retired into camp at Liyang. The two brothers Lü, who were renegades from Yüan Shang, were now raised to noble rank and followed the army as supernumeraries.
Kuo T‘u noted this advancement and said to T‘an, “He has promised you a daughter to wife. I fear that bodes no good. Now he has given titles of nobility to the two Lüs and taken them with him. This is a trap for the northern people but he intends evil toward us. You, my lord, should have two generals’ seals engraved and send them secretly to the brothers so that you may have friends at court ready for the day when Ts‘ao shall have broken your brother’s power and we can begin to work against him.”
The seals were engraved and sent. As soon as the brothers received them they informed Tsʻao Ts‘ao, who smiled saying, “He wants your support so he sends you seals as officers. I will consider it as soon as Yüan Shang has been dealt with. In the meantime you may accept the seals till I shall decide what to do.”
Thenceforward T‘an was doomed. Shên P‘ei and his master also discussed the situation.
“Ts‘ao is getting grain into Paikou, which means an attack on Ch‘ichou; what is to be done?” asked Shang.
Shên P‘ei replied, “Send letters to Yin Kai, Chief of Wuan, bidding him camp at Maoch‘êng to secure the road to Shangtang and direct Chu Ku to maintain Hantan as a distant auxiliary. Then you may advance on P‘ingyüan and attack Ts‘ao Ts‘ao.”
The plan seemed good. Yüan Shang left Shên P‘ei and Ch‘ên Lin in charge of Ch‘ichou, appointed two captains Ma Yen and Chang K‘ai as van leaders, and set out hastily for P‘ingyüan.
When T‘an heard of the approach of his brother’s army he sent urgent messages to Ts‘ao, who said to himself, “I am going to get Ch‘ichou this time.”
Just at this time it happened that Hsü Yu came down from the capital. When he heard that Yüan Shang was attacking his brother T‘an he sought Ts‘ao and said, “You, Sir Minister, sit here on guard; are you waiting till Heaven’s thunder shall strike the two Yüans?”
“I have thought it all out,” said Ts‘ao.
Then he ordered Ts‘ao Hung to go and fight against Yeh, while he led another army against Yin Kai. Kai could make no adequate defence and was killed by Hsü Ch‘u. His men ran away and presently joined Ts‘ao’s army. Next he led the army to Hantan and Chu Ku came out to fight him. Chang Liao advanced to fight with Chu and after the third encounter the latter was defeated and fled. Liao went after him and when their two horses were not far apart, Liao took his bow and shot. The fleeing soldier fell as the bowstring twanged. Ts‘ao sent Ma Yen to complete the rout and Chu Ku’s force was broken up.
Now Ts‘ao led his armies to an attack on Ch‘ichou. Ts‘ao Hung went close to the city and a regular siege began. The army encompassed the city and began by throwing up great mounds. They also tunnelled subterranean ways.
Within the city Shên P‘ei turned his whole care to the defence and issued the severest commands. The captain of the east gate, one Fêng Li, got intoxicated and failed to keep his watch for which he was severely punished. He resented this, sneaked out of the city, went over to the besiegers and told them how the place could be attacked.
“The earth within the T‘umên is solid enough to be tunnelled and entrance can be effected there,” said the traitor.
So Fêng Li was sent with three hundred men to carry out his plan under cover of darkness.
After Fêng Li had deserted to the enemy Shên P‘ei went every night to the wall to inspect the men on duty. The night of the sapping he went there as usual and saw that there were no lights outside the city and all was perfectly quiet. So he said to himself, “Fêng is certain to try to come into the city by an underground road.” Whereupon he ordered his men to bring up stones and pile them on the cover of the tunnel opening. The opening was stopped up and the attacking party perished in the tunnel they had excavated. Ts‘ao having failed in this attempt abandoned the scheme of underground attack. He drew off the army to a place above the Hêngshui to await till Yüan Shang should return to relieve the city.
Yüan Shang heard of the defeat of Yin Kai and Chu Ku, and the siege of his own city, and bethought himself of relieving it. One of his captains, Ma Yen, said, “The high road will surely be ambushed; we must find some other way. We can take a bye-road from the Western Hills and get through at Fushuik‘ou, whence we can fall upon Ts‘ao’s camp.”
The plan was acceptable and Shang started off with the main body, Ma Yen and Chang K‘ai being rear guard.
Ts‘ao’s spies soon found out this move and when they reported it he said, “If he comes by the high road I shall have to keep out of the way; if by the Western Hills bye-road I can settle him in one battle. And I think he will show a blaze as a signal to the besieged that they may make a sortie. I shall prepare to attack both.” So he made his preparations.
Now Yüan Shang went out by the Fushui Pass east toward Yangp‘ing and near this he camped. Thence to his own city was seventeen li. The Fushui stream ran beside the camp. He ordered his men to collect firewood and grass ready for the blaze he intended to make at night as his signal. He also sent Li Fu, a civil officer, disguised as an officer of Ts‘ao Ts‘ao’s army, to inform Shên P‘ei of his intentions.
Fu reached the city wall safely and called out to the guards to open. Shên P‘ei recognised his voice and let him in. Thus Shën P‘ei knew of the arrangements for his relief and it was agreed that a blaze should be raised within the city so that the sortie could be simultaneous with Shang’s attack. Orders were given to collect inflammables.
Then said Fu, “As your food supply is short it would be well for the old men, the feeble soldiers and the women to surrender. This will come upon them as a surprise and we will send the soldiers out behind them.”
Shên P‘ei promised to do all this and next day they hoisted on the wall a white flag with the words “The populace of Ch‘ichou surrender” on it.
“Ho ho! This means no food,” said Ts‘ao. “They are sending away the non-combatants to escape feeding them. And the soldiers will follow behind them.”
So on two sides he laid an ambush of three companies while he went near the wall in full state. Presently the gates were opened and out came the people supporting their aged folk and leading their little ones by the hand. Each carried a white flag. As soon as the people had passed the gate the soldiers followed with a rush.
Then Ts‘ao Ts‘ao showed a red flag and the ambushed soldiers fell upon the sortie. The men tried to return and Ts‘ao’s men made a direct attack. The chase continued to the drawbridge, but there they met with a tremendous shower of arrows and crossbow bolts which checked the advance. Ts‘ao’s helmet was struck and the crest carried away.
So the men retired. As soon as Ts‘ao had changed his dress and mounted a fresh horse he set out at the head of the army to attack Yüan Shang’s camp.
Yüan Shang led the defence. The attack came simultaneously from many directions, the defenders were quite disorganised and presently defeated. Shang led his men back by the hills and made a camp under their shelter. Thence he sent messengers to urge Ma Yen and Chang K‘ai to bring up the supports. He did not know that Ts‘ao had sent the two Lüs to persuade these two into surrender and that they had already passed under Ts‘ao’s banner, and he had made them marquises.
Just before going to attack the Western Hills he sent the two Lüs with Ma Yen and Chang K‘ai to seize the source of Yüan Shang’s supplies. Shang had realised he could not hold the hills so he went by night to Ik‘ou. Before he could get camped he saw flaring lights springing up all around him and soon an attack began. He was taken aback and had to oppose the enemy with his men half armed, his steeds unsaddled. His army suffered and he had to retreat another fifty li. By that time his force was too enfeebled to show any resistance and as no other course was possible he sent to ask that he might surrender. Ts‘ao feigned to consent, but that night he sent a force to raid Shang’s camp. Then it became flight, abandoning everything, seals, emblems of office and even personal clothing. He made for the hills.
Then came an attack on Ch‘ichou and to help out this Hsü Yu suggested drowning the city by turning the course of the River Chang. Ts‘ao adopted the suggestion and at once sent a small number of men to dig a channel to lead the water to the city. All told, it was forty li.
Shên P‘ei saw the diggers from the city wall and noticed that they made only a shallow channel. He chuckled, saying to himself, “What is the use of such a channel to drown out the city from a deep river?”
So he made no preparations to keep out the water.
But as soon as night came on Ts‘ao increased his army of diggers tenfold and by daylight the channel was deepened to twenty feet and the water was flowing in a great stream into the city where it already stood some feet deep. So this misfortune was added to the lack of food.
Hsin Pʻi now displayed the captured seal and garments of Yüan Shang hung out on spears, to the great shame of their late owner, and called upon the people of the city to surrender. This angered Shên P‘ei, who avenged the insult by putting to death on the city wall the whole of the Hsin family who were within the city. There were nearly a hundred of them and their severed heads were cast down from the walls. Hsin P‘i wept exceedingly.
Shên P‘ei’s nephew Shên Yung, one of the gate wardens, was a dear friend of Hsin P‘i and the murder of P‘i’s family greatly distressed him. He wrote a secret letter offering to betray the city and tied it to an arrow, which he shot out among the besiegers. The soldiers found it, gave it to Hsin P‘i and he took it to his chief.
Ts‘ao issued an order that the family of the Yüans should be spared when the city should be taken and that no one who surrendered should be put to death. The next day the soldiers entered by the west gate, opened for them by Shên’s nephew. Hsin P‘i was the first to prance in on horseback and the men followed.
When Shên, who was on the southeast of the city, saw the enemy within the gates he placed himself at the head of some horsemen and dashed toward them. He was met and captured by Hsü Huang who bound him and led him outside the city. On the road they met Hsin Pʻi, who ground his teeth with rage at the murderer of his relatives and then struck the prisoner over the head with his whip and abused him as a murderer. Shên retorted by calling him traitor and saying how sorry he was not to have slain him before.
When the captive was taken into Ts‘ao’s presence Ts‘ao said, “Do you know who opened the gate to let me in?”
“No; I know not.”
“It was your nephew Shên Yung who gave up the gate,” said Ts‘ao.
“He was always unprincipled; and it has come to this!” said Shên.
“The other day when I approached the city why did you shoot so hard at me?”
“I am sorry we shot too little.”
“As a faithful adherent of the Yüans you could do no otherwise. Now will you come over to me?”
“Never; I will never surrender.”
Hsin P‘i threw himself on the ground with lamentations, saying, “Eighty of my people murdered by this ruffian; I pray you slay him, O Minister!”
“Alive, I have served the Yüans,” said Shên, “dead, I will be their ghost. I am no flattering time-server as you are. Kill me!”
Ts‘ao gave the order; they led him away to put him to death. On the execution ground he said to the executioners, “My lord is in the north, I pray you not to make me face the south.” So he knelt facing the north and extended his neck for the fatal stroke.
Who of all th’ official throng
In Hopei was true like Shên?
Sad his fate! he served a fool,
But faithful, as the ancient men.
Straight and true was every word,
Never from the road he swerved.
Faithful unto death, he died
Gazing toward the lord he’d served.
Thus died Shên P‘ei and from respect for his character Ts‘ao ordered that he be buried honourably on the north of the city.
Ts‘ao Ts‘ao then entered the city. As he was starting he saw the executioners hurrying forward a prisoner who proved to be Ch‘ên Lin.
“You wrote that manifesto for Yüan Shao. If you had only directed your diatribe against me, it would not have mattered. But why did you shame my forefathers?” said Ts‘ao.
“When the arrow is on the string, it must fly,” replied Lin.
Those about Ts‘ao urged him to put Ch‘ên Lin to death, but he was spared on account of his genius and given a small civil post.
Now Ts‘ao’s eldest son was named P‘ei, otherwise Tzŭ-hêng. At the taking of the city he was eighteen years of age. When he was born a dark purplish halo hung over the house for a whole day. One who understood the meaning of such manifestations had secretly told Ts‘ao that the halo belonged to the Imperial class and portended honours which could not be put into words.
At eight the lad could compose very skilfully and he was well read in ancient history. Now he was an adept at all military arts and very fond of fencing. He had gone with his father on the expedition to Ch‘ichou. He led his escort in the direction of the Yüan family dwelling, and when he reached it he strode in sword in hand. When some one would have stayed him, saying that by order of the Minister no one was to enter the house, he bade them begone. The guards fell back and he made his way into the private rooms, where he saw two women weeping in each other’s arms. He went forward to slay them.
Four generations of honours, gone like a dream,
Fate follows on ever surely, though slow she seem.
The fate of the two women will be told in the next chapter.